NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Oct. 14, 2004-- Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that Crown Holdings Inc.'s (BB-/Stable/--) announcement that its third-quarter earnings improved 18% year-over-year does not affect the ratings or outlook on the company. The company reported earnings before interest and taxes of $185 million for the third quarter of 2004, compared with earnings of $157 million for the comparable period in 2003. The earnings improvement reflected volume growth in metal food cans in Europe, and relatively flat volumes in metal beverage and food cans in the Americas, which was partially offset by volume declines in beverage cans in Europe owing to a wet and cold summer. Additional factors were improved operating efficiencies, ongoing benefits of
